Mat structure



DCC. 17,` 1940. A s. GALKlN 2,225,107

MAT STRUCTURE Filed Aug. l, 1959 ART/W1? .5. @ALK/1v INVENTOR if 7 l Ugg-MM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES l 1,225,107' MA'rs'rTtUCTURE Arthur S. Galkin, Providence, R. I.

' Y' Application August 1,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved mat structure and the method of making they same, and more particularly to a structure of the character described having alsection o-f substantially continuous surface area provided with arr insert of contrasting color ory surface appearance vinserted within a portion thereof to provide identifying or distinguishing numbers, initials or other suitable indicia or insignia.

One object of the invention is the provision in a structure of the character describedof a continuous section provided with one or more inserts of contrasting color or surface appearance tted therein and held inposition'by means of bars or the like passed through registering perforations formed in the section and insert respectively. f

Another object of the invention is the provision of a section of substantial surfaceA area adapted to form a portion of `a mat or like structure and having areas of contrasting surface appearance formed by cutting out and reversing portions thereof from two sections of similar shape and size but contrasting color'orsurface appearance together Withmeans for retaining the portions of contrasting appearance within cut-out recesses of the sections. Y

A further object of ther-invention is theprovision of novel steps and arrangements of steps for forming a device of this character by cutting out inserts from corresponding sections of contrasting color or appearance and reinserting parts of the cut-out portions'in the reverse order of their original locations to provide contrasting color designs for the sections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction as well as novel arrangements of the parts, and improved steps and arrangements of steps in the formation of the same as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a portion of a mat structure, certain of the parts being broken away,`

of a type comprising a plurality of link elements having portions thereof secured together by means of connecting bars and comprising one or more sections of substantial surface area having an insert or inserts of contrasting color or appearance fitted therein and held in position within the section,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of one of the sections from which a portion has been struck out,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the portion struck out from the section shown in Fig. 2, and,

1939, serial No. 287,759

. 'Fig 4 is a sectional view taken through the section and insert as shown in Fig. 1 substantially midway between the 'opposite side faces thereof and illustrating the positions of the bar receiving perforations extending through the sec- Z,5 tion and insert as well as the location of the holding bars with reference to the section and insert for retaining the parts in position relative to each other.

Theinvention as illustrated herein is shown in 10 connection with a mat of the type formed by connecting a plurality of links I, which may be of rrubber or other suitable material and arranged in alternate relation to form adjacent link series, the links of which are pivotally'connected l5 together by bars 2 extending transversely of the links and passed through perforations 3 formed in the link ends to provide a mat capable of being readily rolled or folded. f

While the invention is capable of and readily 20 adapted for use in connection with a structure of this characterit may be employed in other suitable relations and in other structures `of a character in which separately shaped sections of substantial surface areas are adapted to be 25 employed in connection with holding'rneans .corresponding with those shownherein for retain-- ingthe insert or inserts in position within'the section,

In the present case, the section 4 as initially 30 formed is of a substantially continuous surface extent and provided atopposite ends thereof with integral lugs or projections 5, each of which has a perforation 6 extending therethrough t0 receive one of the bars or holding members V2, 35 which may also be passed through certain of the link ends.

In'- carrying out the invention two sections 4 are preferably employed which are of contrasting color or surface appearance lthroughout their 40 opposite side faces. These sections are preferably of the same shape and area and are each provided with correspondingly positioned perforations 6 extending therethrough for receiving bars or holding means similar to or corre- 45 -sponding with the holding means 2 shown in the drawing. The two duplicate sections of contrasting color or surface appearance mentioned above may be placed in a suitable frame or otherwise held in exact correspondence with re- 50 lation to a cutter to stamp out a portion or portions of each section identical in shape and size and similarly positioned with reference to the perforations 6 formed in the duplicate sections 4.

After cutting out the similar portions from 55 the sections, all or certain parts of the cut-out portions are transferred from the section from which they have been cut to the other section and inserted therein, that is, in the embodiment shown, the portion 'I struck out from the section 4 is transferred to and inserted Within a section similar to the section 4 except that it is of a different color or surface appearance, While a portion corresponding to the portion 'I but taken from a section of different color or surface appearance is inserted within the section 4 together with the part 8 originally struck out from the section 4.

After stamping out the portion 'l from the section 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,` which stamped-out portion 'l in the present case is in the form of the initial R, a recess 9 remains in the section 4 of like sire and shape with the portion I removed therefrom. In this case, also, a part 8 struck out in the formation of the portion 'I is formed and may be repositioned within the section 4 from which it was struck together with a correspondingly shaped portion 'l which has been struck out from a similar section having a different color or surface appearance to form the completed section, as shown, in Figs. 1 and 4, having an insert of contrasting color or surface appearance positioned therein.

In stamping out the parts from the section, the parts struck out from duplicate sections of contrasting color or surface appearance must be identical in shape and size and must correspond exactly in their relation with the perforations 6 formed in the sections, so that upon transference of the corresponding struck-out parts from each section to the duplicate section of corresponding color or appearance, the transferred parts will fit exactly within the recesses S to which they are transferred and in such a manner that the bar receiving perforations 6 formed in the parts and sections will be in exact or substantially exact registry for receiving bars 2 in such a manner as to hold the transferred parts securely in position within the sections.

After inserting the stamped-out part Within a section 4, after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4, bars 2 are inserted in the registering perforations t to retain the stamped-out parts securely in position within the section.

In the drawing, the main portion of the section 4 is indicated as colored brown while the initial R is shown as colored green. In Fig. 2, the main portion of the section 4 and the part 8 are shown as colored brown, while in Fig. 3 the initial R forming the insert is green. The initial R cut from the brown section 4 is not shown nor is the. green section 4 from which the initial R of Fig. 3 is stamped, as they are identical in all respects With thosev shown except for the difference in color. The colors employed in the figures are selected merely for convenience in illustration and any other suitable or desired colors of a different or contrasting type may be employed.

The general mat construction as shown may include the use of U-shaped bars having parallel arms 2 extending from a central portion H and free ends l2 which are bent down towards each other after insertion Within the links and are held in position by a sleeve I4 clamped thereon.

While the invention is shown and described with particular reference to a mat structure of the character described it is capable of use in connection with any form of structure which includes one or more sections of substantial area capable of having portions stamped therefrom and of a nature to require or permit the use of bars passed through perforations formed therein for holding the stamped-out portions securely in the sections.

What I claim is:

l. In a mat structire comprising plural series of pivotally connected link members provided With longitudinally spaced transverse perforations, and bars passed through the perforations pivotally connecting adjacent series of link members, of a mat section of substantial surface area provided with a plurality of laterally closed spaced transverse perforations positioned to receive certain of said bars and having a cut-out area extending therethrough of an overall width exceeding the distance separating adjacent bars, and an insert fitting within the cut-out area of said section and having transverse perforations registering with those of the section, whereby certain of the link connecting bars are passed through the perforations formed in the section and insert to retain the insert securely in position within the section.

2. A structure of the character described cornprising a structural section of substantially uniform thickness throughout having a face area of substantial extent and a cut-out portion extending through the section, said section being provided with laterally closed transverse perforations extending therethrough transversely of the cut-out area and so arranged that two or more of the transverse perforations intersect the cut-out area, an insert tting closely Within the kcut-out area of the section and provided with transverse perforations registering with the transverse perforations of the section to form therewith continuously Walled perforations in the intertted position of the parts, and bars passed through the registering perforations in said section and insert to hold the parts securely against separation.

ARTHUR S. GALKIN. 

